EnergySec is excited to announce Chuck Beam as the recipient of the Energy Sector Security Executive of the Year, and Robert M. Lee as the Energy Sector Security Professional of the Year. In selecting the Executive of the Year, we looked for a person who was in senior management, and directly responsible for cybersecurity functions. Additionally, they should demonstrate leadership and engagement in the electric sector community, above and beyond what is normally expected. Mr. Beam demonstrates all of these qualities. He is a native of Columbia, S.C., and received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of South Carolina.

He joined Duke Energy in 1979 as a programmer/analyst. For the past 20 years, he has held various technical and management positions within the corporate information management area. Most recently, he was general manager, information technology security and business management. Today he is the VP of Information Technology Operations.

Mr. Beam is an Elder at Philadelphia Presbyterian Church in Mint Hill. He and his wife, Debbie, have two daughters and a son. Mr. Beam was unable to attend the Awards Dinner, so Angela Crisp received the award on his behalf.

For the Energy Sector Professional of the Year, we looked for somebody who helped to make the whole Energy Sector more secure. Robert Lee has done that. He is CEO and co-founder at the critical infrastructure cyber security company Dragos Security LLC, which makes the cyber situational awareness software – CyberLens. He is also a non-resident National Cybersecurity Fellow at New America focusing on policy issues relating to the cyber security of critical infrastructure. For his research and focus areas, Robert was named one of Passcode’s Influencers.

A passionate educator, Robert is the course author of SANS ICS515 – “Active Defense and Incident Response”, the co-author of SANS FOR578 – “Cyber Threat Intelligence” and an Adjunct Lecturer at Utica College for the M.S. Cyber Operations specialization.

Robert obtained his start in cyber security in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a Cyber Warfare Operations Officer. He has performed defense, intelligence, and attack missions in various government organizations including the establishment of a first-of-its-kind ICS/SCADA cyber threat intelligence and intrusion analysis mission. Robert routinely writes articles and journals in publications such as Control Engineering and the Christian Science Monitor’s Passcode. He is also a frequent speaker at conferences around the world and is currently pursuing his PhD at Kings College London with research into the cyber security of control systems. Lastly, Robert, along with Jeff Haas, creates a weekly technology and security web comic titled Little Bobby based off of his book SCADA and Me.

Both honorees received their awards at the EnergySec Security Summit Awards Dinner, in Alexandria, VA on September 15.

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